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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549


Form 10-K

     
(Mark One)
   
þ
  ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
    For the Fiscal Year ended December 31, 2003
 
o
  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission file number 000-49928


Texas United Bancshares, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
     
Texas
  75-2768656
(State or other jurisdiction of
Incorporation or organization)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

202 W. Colorado

La Grange, Texas 78945
(Address of principal executive offices including zip code)

(979) 968-8451

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)


Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

None

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share
(Title of class)


      Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.     Yes þ          No o

      Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).     Yes o          No þ

      Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.     þ

      As of March 15, 2004, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share, was 4,004,221. The aggregate market value of the shares of Common Stock held by non-affiliates based on the closing price of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market on June 30, 2003, the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, of $21.48 per share, was approximately $50.1 million.




 

 
Item 1. Business

General

      Texas United Bancshares, Inc. (“Texas United”) is a bank holding company formed in June 1998 as a result of the merger of South Central Texas Bancshares, Inc. with and into Premier Bancshares, Inc. At the effective date of the merger, the resulting company changed its name to Texas United Bancshares, Inc. and was the parent to three separately chartered state banking institutions: State Bank, La Grange, Texas; Central Texas Bank, Flatonia, Texas; and Central Texas Bank, Gonzales, Texas. In December 1999, Central Texas Bank of Gonzales was merged into Central Texas Bank of Flatonia and in December 2001, Central Texas Bank of Flatonia was merged into State Bank of La Grange. Texas United derives substantially all of its income from State Bank which has eighteen full service banking locations serving eleven counties within central and south central Texas.

      The principal executive office of Texas United is located at 202 W. Colorado in La Grange, Texas and its telephone number is (979) 968-8451.

      Texas United operates under a community bank philosophy emphasizing long-term customer relationships and providing practical financial solutions, convenience, consistent service and reasonably priced, useable products. Texas United has grown through a combination of internal growth, acquisitions and the opening of new banking locations.

      In July 1999, Texas United acquired First State Bank, Dime Box, Texas and in December 1999, Texas United acquired certain assets and assumed certain liabilities of a branch in Pleasanton, Texas from First National Bank of South Texas. In September 2000, Texas United acquired the investment advisory company of Pamela Krueger and Associates located in Austin, Texas. That company operated as a subsidiary of Texas United under the name Third Coast Wealth Advisors and was sold in October 2003. In October 2000, Texas United acquired certain assets and assumed certain liabilities of two branches in Hempstead and Waller from Texas Guaranty Bank in Houston.

      In July 2002, Texas United acquired The Bryan-College Station Holding Company and its wholly owned subsidiary, First Federal Savings Bank (“First Federal”) located in Bryan, Texas. The three locations of First Federal became branches of State Bank.

      In addition to these acquisitions, Texas United has opened six de novo banking centers between May 1999 and December 2002 in Schulenburg, Tomball, Cedar Park, Austin, Lexington, and Liberty Hill, Texas.

      On October 15, 2003, Texas United effected a three-for-two stock split in the form of a 50% stock dividend payable to shareholders of record on October 1, 2003. Texas United issued approximately 1.3 million shares in connection with the stock split. All share and per share information contained in this document has been restated to reflect this stock split.

Recent Developments

      On February 5, 2004, State Bank acquired 100% of Community Home Loan, Inc. (“CHL”) and operates CHL as a subsidiary of State Bank. CHL is a mortgage bank domiciled in Houston, Texas. Based upon financial information as of December 31, 2003, State Bank acquired $11.1 million in assets and assumed $10.1 million in liabilities. Initial consideration paid was $300,000 in cash and $200,000 in Texas United common stock. Additional consideration will be paid annually through 2007 based upon the achievement of performance objectives. If all objectives are obtained, State Bank would pay an aggregate of an additional $1.3 million.

Lines of Business

      Texas United offers a variety of traditional loan and deposit products to its customers that consist primarily of consumers and small to medium-sized businesses. Texas United tailors its products to the needs of customers within a specific market area. At December 31, 2003, Texas United maintained approximately 52,600 separate deposit accounts and 30,600 separate loan accounts and approximately 19.2% of Texas United’s total deposits were non-interest bearing demand deposits. For the period ended December 31, 2003, Texas United’s average cost of funds was 1.85%.

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      Texas United has been an active mortgage lender, with 1-4 family residential (including loans held for sale) and commercial mortgage loans comprising 67.4% of the Texas United’s total loans outstanding as of December 31, 2003. For consumer customers, Texas United offers loans for automobiles and other consumer durables, home equity loans, debit and credit cards, personal computer banking, and other cash flow management services and telebanking. By offering certificates of deposit, NOW accounts, savings and money market accounts, and overdraft protection at competitive rates, the Company gives its depositors a full range of traditional deposit products. Texas United successfully introduced Platinum Reward Checking, which for a monthly fee provides consumers with a package of benefits including free personalized checks and overdraft protection. In addition, Texas United facilitates sales of brokerage, mutual funds, annuities, and other insurance products through third party vendors. The deposits of State Bank are insured by the Bank Insurance Fund (“BIF”) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”).

      The businesses targeted by the Company in its lending efforts are primarily those that require loans in the $250,000 to $750,000 range. The Company offers these businesses a broad array of loan products including term loans, lines of credit and working capital loans, business expansion and equipment loans, interim construction loans for builders, and owner-occupied commercial real estate loans.

Market Area

      Texas United’s primary market consists of the communities served by its eighteen locations within eleven counties of central and south central Texas. Texas United’s growth strategy is to increase its presence in central and south central Texas by acquiring small community banks and to branch into higher growth suburban areas of Austin, Houston and San Antonio, Texas.

      The diverse nature of the economies at each location served by Texas United provides a varied customer base and allows Texas United to spread its lending risk throughout a number of different industries. Texas United’s market area is comprised of smaller community banks or branches of large regional banks. Management believes that as a mid-sized financial institution it can combine the philosophies of a community bank with the sophistication of a large regional bank to enhance its competitive advantage within the markets served and provide for excellent growth opportunities through acquisitions, new branching locations and additional business development.

      Texas United’s directors and officers are important to the overall success of Texas United and play a key role in business development by serving in various public and civic activities. Texas United has invested heavily in recruiting top talent and providing them with economic incentives in the form of competitive pay, incentive plans and stock ownership. Each banking center is administered by a local president with knowledge of the community and lending expertise in the specific industries found within the community. Texas United entrusts its banking center presidents with the authority and flexibility within general parameters with respect to product pricing and decision making in order to avoid the bureaucratic structure of larger banks. Each banking center is operated as a separate profit unit with respect to maintaining separate data on net interest margin, loan and deposit growth, efficiency, asset quality and overall profitability. The banking center presidents are accountable for these areas and are compensated accordingly.

Competition

      The banking business is highly competitive, and the profitability of Texas United depends primarily on its ability to compete in its market areas. Texas United experiences substantial competition in attracting and retaining savings deposits and in lending funds. Texas United competes with other commercial banks, savings banks, savings and loan associations, credit unions, finance companies, mutual funds, insurance companies, brokerage and investment banking firms, asset-based nonbank lenders and certain other nonfinancial entities, including retail stores which may maintain their own credit programs and certain governmental organizations which may offer more favorable financing than Texas United. Texas United has been able to compete effectively with other financial institutions by emphasizing customer service, technology and responsive decision-making; by establishing long-term customer relationships and building customer loyalty; and by providing products and services designed to address the specific needs of its customers.

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Employees

      As of December 31, 2003, Texas United and State Bank had 313 full-time equivalent employees, 103 of whom were officers of State Bank. Texas United provides medical and hospitalization insurance to its full-time employees. Texas United considers its relations with its employees to be good. Neither Texas United nor State Bank is a party to any collective bargaining agreement.

Supervision and Regulation

      The supervision and regulation of bank holding companies and their subsidiaries is intended primarily for the protection of depositors, the deposit insurance funds of the FDIC and the banking system as a whole, and not for the protection of the bank holding company shareholders or creditors. The banking agencies have broad enforcement power over bank holding companies and banks including the power to impose substantial fines and other penalties for violations of laws and regulations.

      The following description summarizes some of the laws to which Texas United and State Bank are subject. References in the following description to applicable statutes and regulations are brief summaries of these statutes and regulations, do not purport to be complete, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to such statutes and regulations. Texas United believes that it is in compliance in all material respects with these laws and regulations.

Texas United

      Texas United is a financial holding company registered under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and a bank holding company registered under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (BHCA). Accordingly, Texas United is subject to supervision, regulation and examination by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Federal Reserve Board). The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, the BHCA and other federal laws subject financial and bank holding companies to particular restrictions on the types of activities in which they may engage, and to a range of supervisory requirements and activities, including regulatory enforcement actions for violations of laws and regulations.

      Regulatory Restrictions on Dividends; Source of Strength. It is the policy of the Federal Reserve Board that bank holding companies should pay cash dividends on common stock only out of income available over the past year and only if prospective earnings retention is consistent with the organization’s expected future needs and financial condition. The policy provides that bank holding companies should not maintain a level of cash dividends that undermines the bank holding company’s ability to serve as a source of strength to its banking subsidiaries.

      Under Federal Reserve Board policy, a bank holding company is expected to act as a source of financial strength to each of its banking subsidiaries and commit resources to their support. Such support may be required at times when, absent this Federal Reserve Board policy, a holding company may not be inclined to provide it. As discussed below, a bank holding company in certain circumstances could be required to guarantee the capital plan of an undercapitalized banking subsidiary.

      In the event of a bank holding company’s bankruptcy under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, the trustee will be deemed to have assumed and is required to cure immediately any deficit under any commitment by the debtor holding company to any of the federal banking agencies to maintain the capital of an insured depository institution. Any claim for breach of such obligation will generally have priority over most other unsecured claims.

      Scope of Permissible Activities. Under the BHCA, bank holding companies generally may not acquire a direct or indirect interest in or control of more than 5% of the voting shares of any company that is not a bank or bank holding company or from engaging in activities other than those of banking, managing or controlling banks or furnishing services to or performing services for its subsidiaries, except that it may engage in, directly or indirectly, certain activities that the Federal Reserve Board determined to be closely related to banking or managing and controlling banks as to be a proper incident thereto. In approving acquisitions or the addition of activities, the Federal Reserve considers whether the acquisition or the additional activities can reasonably be expected to produce benefits to the public, such as greater convenience, increased competition, or gains in

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efficiency, that outweigh such possible adverse effects as undue concentration of resources, decreased or unfair competition, conflicts of interest or unsound banking practices.

      However, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, effective March 11, 2000, eliminated the barriers to affiliations among banks, securities firms, insurance companies and other financial service providers and permits bank holding companies to become financial holding companies and thereby affiliate with securities firms and insurance companies and engage in other activities that are financial in nature. The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act defines “financial in nature” to include securities underwriting, dealing and market making; sponsoring mutual funds and investment companies; insurance underwriting and agency; merchant banking activities; and activities that the Federal Reserve Board has determined to be closely related to banking. No regulatory approval will be required for a financial holding company to acquire a company, other than a bank or savings association, engaged in activities that are financial in nature or incidental to activities that are financial in nature, as determined by the Federal Reserve Board.

      Under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, a bank holding company may become a financial holding company by filing a declaration with the Federal Reserve Board if each of its subsidiary banks is well capitalized under the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991 (“FDICIA”) prompt corrective action provisions, is well managed, and has at least a satisfactory rating under the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 (CRA).

      While the Federal Reserve Board serves as the “umbrella” regulator for financial holding companies and has the power to examine banking organizations engaged in new activities, regulation and supervision of activities which are financial in nature or determined to be incidental to such financial activities will be handled along functional lines. Accordingly, activities of subsidiaries of a financial holding company are regulated by the agency or authorities with the most experience regulating that activity as it is conducted in a financial holding company.

      Safe and Sound Banking Practices. Bank holding companies are not permitted to engage in unsafe and unsound banking practices. The Federal Reserve Board’s Regulation Y, for example, generally requires a holding company to give the Federal Reserve Board prior notice of any redemption or repurchase of its own equity securities, if the consideration to be paid, together with the consideration paid for any repurchases or redemptions in the preceding year, is equal to 10% or more of the holding company’s consolidated net worth. The Federal Reserve Board may oppose the transaction if it believes that the transaction would constitute an unsafe or unsound practice or would violate any law or regulation. Depending upon the circumstances, the Federal Reserve Board could take the position that paying a dividend would constitute an unsafe or unsound banking practice.

      The Federal Reserve Board has broad authority to prohibit activities of bank holding companies and their nonbanking subsidiaries which represent unsafe and unsound banking practices or which constitute violations of laws or regulations, and can assess civil money penalties for certain activities conducted on a knowing and reckless basis, if those activities caused a substantial loss to a depository institution. The penalties can be as high as $1.0 million for each day the activity continues.

      Anti-Tying Restrictions. Bank holding companies and their affiliates are prohibited from tying the provision of certain services, such as extensions of credit, to other services offered by a holding company or its affiliates.

      Capital Adequacy Requirements. The Federal Reserve Board has adopted a system using risk-based capital guidelines to evaluate the capital adequacy of bank holding companies. Under the guidelines, specific categories of assets are assigned different risk weights, based generally on the perceived credit risk of the asset. These risk weights are multiplied by corresponding asset balances to determine a “risk-weighted” asset base. The guidelines require a minimum total risk-based capital ratio of 8.0% (of which at least 4.0% is required to consist of Tier 1 capital elements). Total capital is the sum of Tier 1 and Tier 2 capital. As of December 31, 2003, Texas United’s ratio of Tier 1 capital to total risk-weighted assets was 9.54% and its ratio of total capital to total risk-weighted assets was 10.47%.

      In addition to the risk-based capital guidelines, the Federal Reserve Board uses a leverage ratio as an additional tool to evaluate the capital adequacy of bank holding companies. The leverage ratio is a company’s Tier 1 capital divided by its average total consolidated assets. Certain highly rated bank holding companies

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may maintain a minimum leverage ratio of 3.0%, but other bank holding companies are be required to maintain a leverage ratio of 4.0%. As of December 31, 2003, Texas United’s leverage ratio was 6.46%.

      The federal banking agencies’ risk-based and leverage ratios are minimum supervisory ratios generally applicable to banking organizations that meet certain specified criteria, assuming that they have the highest regulatory rating. Banking organizations not meeting these criteria are expected to operate with capital positions well above the minimum ratios. The federal bank regulatory agencies may set capital requirements for a particular banking organization that are higher than the minimum ratios when circumstances warrant. Federal Reserve Board guidelines also provide that banking organizations experiencing internal growth or making acquisitions will be expected to maintain strong capital positions substantially above the minimum supervisory levels, without significant reliance on intangible assets.

      Imposition of Liability for Undercapitalized Subsidiaries. Bank regulators are required to take “prompt corrective action” to resolve problems associated with insured depository institutions whose capital declines below certain levels. In the event an institution becomes “undercapitalized,” it must submit a capital restoration plan. The capital restoration plan will not be accepted by the regulators unless each company having control of the undercapitalized institution guarantees the subsidiary’s compliance with the capital restoration plan up to a certain specified amount. Any such guarantee from a depository institution’s holding company is entitled to a priority of payment in bankruptcy.

      The aggregate liability of the holding company of an undercapitalized bank is limited to the lesser of 5% of the institution’s assets at the time it became undercapitalized or the amount necessary to cause the institution to be “adequately capitalized.” The bank regulators have greater power in situations where an institution becomes “significantly” or “critically” undercapitalized or fails to submit a capital restoration plan. For example, a bank holding company controlling such an institution can be required to obtain prior Federal Reserve Board approval of proposed dividends, or might be required to consent to a consolidation or to divest the troubled institution or other affiliates.

      Acquisitions by Bank Holding Companies. The BHCA requires every bank holding company to obtain the prior approval of the Federal Reserve Board before it may acquire all or substantially all of the assets of any bank, or ownership or control of any voting shares of any bank, if after such acquisition it would own or control, directly or indirectly, more than 5% of the voting shares of such bank. In approving bank acquisitions by bank holding companies, the Federal Reserve Board is required to consider the financial and managerial resources and future prospects of the bank holding company and the banks concerned, the convenience and needs of the communities to be served, and various competitive factors.

      Control Acquisitions. The Change in Bank Control Act prohibits a person or group of persons from acquiring “control” of a bank holding company unless the Federal Reserve Board has been notified and has not objected to the transaction. Under a rebuttable presumption established by the Federal Reserve Board, the acquisition of 10% or more of a class of voting stock of a bank holding company with a class of securities registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, such as Texas United, would, under the circumstances set forth in the presumption, constitute acquisition of control of Texas United.

      In addition, any entity is required to obtain the approval of the Federal Reserve Board under the BHCA before acquiring 25% (5% in the case of an acquiror that is a bank holding company) or more of the outstanding Common Stock of Texas United, or otherwise obtaining control or a “controlling influence” over Texas United.

State Bank

      State Bank is a Texas-chartered banking association, the deposits of which are insured by the Bank Insurance Fund (“BIF”). State Bank is not a member of the Federal Reserve System; therefore, State Bank is subject to supervision and regulation by the FDIC and the Texas Banking Department. Such supervision and regulation subject State Bank to special restrictions, requirements, potential enforcement actions and periodic examination by the FDIC and the Texas Banking Department. Because the Federal Reserve Board regulates the bank holding company parent of State Bank, the Federal Reserve Board also has supervisory authority which directly affects State Bank.

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      Equivalence to National Bank Powers. The Texas Constitution, as amended in 1986, provides that a Texas-chartered bank has the same rights and privileges that are or may be granted to national banks domiciled in Texas. To the extent that the Texas laws and regulations may have allowed state-chartered banks to engage in a broader range of activities than national banks, the FDICIA has operated to limit this authority. FDICIA provides that no state bank or subsidiary thereof may engage as principal in any activity not permitted for national banks, unless the institution complies with applicable capital requirements and the FDIC determines that the activity poses no significant risk to the insurance fund. In general, statutory restrictions on the activities of banks are aimed at protecting the safety and soundness of depository institutions.

      Financial Modernization. Under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, a national bank may establish a financial subsidiary and engage, subject to limitations on investment, in activities that are financial in nature, other than insurance underwriting as principal, insurance company portfolio investment, real estate development, real estate investment and annuity issuance. To do so, a bank must be well capitalized, well managed and have a CRA rating of satisfactory or better. Subsidiary banks of a financial holding company or national banks with financial subsidiaries must remain well capitalized and well managed in order to continue to engage in activities that are financial in nature without regulatory actions or restrictions. Such actions or restrictions could include divestiture of the “financial in nature” subsidiary or subsidiaries. In addition, a financial holding company or a bank may not acquire a company that is engaged in activities that are financial in nature unless each of the subsidiary banks of the financial holding company or the bank has a CRA rating of satisfactory of better.

      Although the powers of state chartered banks are not specifically addressed in the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, Texas-chartered banks such as State Bank, will have the same if not greater powers as national banks through the parity provision contained in the Texas Constitution.

      Branching. Texas law provides that a Texas-chartered bank can establish a branch anywhere in Texas provided that the branch is approved in advance by the Texas Banking Department. The branch must also be approved by the FDIC, which considers a number of factors, including financial history, capital adequacy, earnings prospects, character of management, needs of the community and consistency with corporate powers.

      Restrictions on Transactions with Affiliates and Insiders. Transactions between State Bank and its nonbanking subsidiaries and/or affiliates, including Texas United, are subject to Section 23A of the Federal Reserve Act. In general, Section 23A imposes limits on the amount of such transactions, and also requires certain levels of collateral for loans to affiliated parties. It also limits the amount of advances to third parties which are collateralized by the securities or obligations of Texas United or its subsidiaries.

      Affiliate transactions are also subject to Section 23B of the Federal Reserve Act which generally requires that certain transactions between State Bank and its affiliates be on terms substantially the same, or at least as favorable to State Bank, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with or involving other nonaffiliated persons. The Federal Reserve has also issued Regulation W which codifies prior regulations under Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act and interpretive guidance with respect to affiliate transactions.

      The restrictions on loans to directors, executive officers, principal shareholders and their related interests (collectively referred to herein as “insiders”) contained in the Federal Reserve Act and Regulation O apply to all insured institutions and their subsidiaries and holding companies. These restrictions include limits on loans to one borrower and conditions that must be met before such a loan can be made. There is also an aggregate limitation on all loans to insiders and their related interests. These loans cannot exceed the institution’s total unimpaired capital and surplus, and the FDIC may determine that a lesser amount is appropriate. Insiders are subject to enforcement actions for knowingly accepting loans in violation of applicable restrictions.

      Restrictions on Distribution of Subsidiary Bank Dividends and Assets. Dividends paid by State Bank have provided Texas United’s operating funds and for the foreseeable future it is anticipated that dividends paid by State Bank to Texas United will continue to be Texas United’s source of operating funds. Capital adequacy requirements serve to limit the amount of dividends that may be paid by State Bank. Under federal law, State Bank cannot pay a dividend if, after paying the dividend, State Bank will be “undercapitalized.” The FDIC may declare a dividend payment to be unsafe and unsound even though State Bank would continue

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to meet its capital requirements after the dividend. Because Texas United is a legal entity separate and distinct from its subsidiaries, its right to participate in the distribution of assets of any subsidiary upon the subsidiary’s liquidation or reorganization will be subject to the prior claims of the subsidiary’s creditors. In the event of a liquidation or other resolution of an insured depository institution, the claims of depositors and other general or subordinated creditors are entitled to a priority of payment over the claims of holders of any obligation of the institution to its shareholders, including any depository institution holding company (such as Texas United) or any shareholder or creditor thereof.

      Examinations. The FDIC periodically examines and evaluates insured banks. Based on such an evaluation, the FDIC may revalue the assets of the institution and require that it establish specific reserves to compensate for the difference between the FDIC-determined value and the book value of such assets. The Texas Banking Department also conducts examinations of state banks but may accept the results of a federal examination in lieu of conducting an independent examination.

      Audit Reports. Insured institutions with total assets of $500 million or more must submit annual audit reports prepared by independent auditors to federal and state regulators. In some instances, the audit report of the institution’s holding company can be used to satisfy this requirement. Auditors must receive examination reports, supervisory agreements and reports of enforcement actions. In addition, financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, management’s certifications concerning responsibility for the financial statements, internal controls and compliance with legal requirements designated by the FDIC, and an attestation by the auditor regarding the statements of management relating to the internal controls must be submitted. For institutions with total assets of more than $3 billion, independent auditors may be required to review quarterly financial statements. FDICIA requires that independent audit committees be formed, consisting of outside directors only. The committees of such institutions must include members with experience in banking or financial management, must have access to outside counsel, and must not include representatives of large customers.

      Capital Adequacy Requirements. The FDIC has adopted regulations establishing minimum requirements for the capital adequacy of insured institutions. The FDIC may establish higher minimum requirements if, for example, a bank has previously received special attention or has a high susceptibility to interest rate risk.

      The FDIC’s risk-based capital guidelines generally require state banks to have a minimum ratio of Tier 1 capital to total risk-weighted assets of 4.0% and a ratio of total capital to total risk-weighted assets of 8.0%. The capital categories have the same definitions for State Bank as for Texas United. As of December 31, 2003, State Bank’s ratio of Tier 1 capital to total risk-weighted assets was 9.72% and its ratio of total capital to total risk-weighted assets was 10.65%.

      The FDIC’s leverage guidelines require state banks to maintain Tier 1 capital of no less than 4.0% of average total assets, except in the case of certain highly rated banks for which the requirement is 3.0% of average total assets. The Texas Banking Department has issued a policy that generally requires state chartered banks to maintain a leverage ratio (defined in accordance with federal capital guidelines) of 6.0%. As of December 31, 2003, State Bank’s ratio of Tier 1 capital to average total assets (leverage ratio) was 6.56%.

      Corrective Measures for Capital Deficiencies. The federal banking regulators are required to take “prompt corrective action” with respect to capital-deficient institutions. Agency regulations define, for each capital category, the levels at which institutions are “well capitalized,” “adequately capitalized,” “under capitalized,” “significantly under capitalized” and “critically under capitalized.” A “well capitalized” bank has a total risk-based capital ratio of 10.0% or higher; a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 6.0% or higher; a leverage ratio of 5.0% or higher; and is not subject to any written agreement, order or directive requiring it to maintain a specific capital level for any capital measure. An “adequately capitalized” bank has a total risk-based capital ratio of 8.0% or higher; a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 4.0% or higher; a leverage ratio of 4.0% or higher (3.0% or higher if the bank was rated a composite 1 in its most recent examination report and is not experiencing significant growth); and does not meet the criteria for a well capitalized bank. A bank is “under capitalized” if it fails to meet any one of the ratios required to be adequately capitalized. State Bank is classified as “well capitalized” for purposes of the FDIC’s prompt corrective action regulations.

      In addition to requiring undercapitalized institutions to submit a capital restoration plan, agency regulations contain broad restrictions on certain activities of undercapitalized institutions including asset

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growth, acquisitions, branch establishment and expansion into new lines of business. With certain exceptions, an insured depository institution is prohibited from making capital distributions, including dividends, and is prohibited from paying management fees to control persons if the institution would be undercapitalized after any such distribution or payment.

      As an institution’s capital decreases, the FDIC’s enforcement powers become more severe. A significantly undercapitalized institution is subject to mandated capital raising activities, restrictions on interest rates paid and transactions with affiliates, removal of management and other restrictions. The FDIC has only very limited discretion in dealing with a critically undercapitalized institution and is virtually required to appoint a receiver or conservator.

      Banks with risk-based capital and leverage ratios below the required minimums may also be subject to certain administrative actions, including the termination of deposit insurance upon notice and hearing, or a temporary suspension of insurance without a hearing in the event the institution has no tangible capital.

      Deposit Insurance Assessments. State Bank must pay assessments to the FDIC for federal deposit insurance protection. The FDIC has adopted a risk-based assessment system as required by FDICIA. Under this system, FDIC-insured depository institutions pay insurance premiums at rates based on their risk classification. Institutions assigned to higher risk classifications (that is, institutions that pose a greater risk of loss to their respective deposit insurance funds) pay assessments at higher rates than institutions that pose a lower risk. An institution’s risk classification is assigned based on its capital levels and the level of supervisory concern the institution poses to the regulators. In addition, the FDIC can impose special assessments in certain instances. The current range of BIF assessments is between 0% and 0.17% of deposits.

      The FDIC established a process for raising or lowering all rates for insured institutions semi-annually if conditions warrant a change. Under this system, the FDIC has the flexibility to adjust the assessment rate schedule twice a year without seeking prior public comment, but only within a range of five cents per $100 above or below the premium schedule adopted. Changes in the rate schedule outside the five cent range above or below the current schedule can be made by the FDIC only after a full rulemaking with opportunity for public comment.

      In addition to BIF assessments, banks insured under the BIF are required to pay a portion of the interest due on bonds that were issued by the Financing Corporation (FICO) to help shore up the ailing Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation in 1987. With regard to the assessment for the FICO obligation, for the first quarter 2004, both the BIF and SAIF rates were 0.0154% of deposits.

      Enforcement Powers. The FDIC and the other federal banking agencies have broad enforcement powers, including the power to terminate deposit insurance, impose substantial fines and other civil and criminal penalties and appoint a conservator or receiver. Failure to comply with applicable laws, regulations and supervisory agreements could subject Texas United or its banking subsidiaries, as well as officers, directors and other institution-affiliated parties of these organizations, to administrative sanctions and potentially substantial civil money penalties. The appropriate federal banking agency may appoint the FDIC as conservator or receiver for a banking institution (or the FDIC may appoint itself, under certain circumstances) if any one or more of a number of circumstances exist, including, without limitation, the fact that the banking institution is undercapitalized and has no reasonable prospect of becoming adequately capitalized; fails to become adequately capitalized when required to do so; fails to submit a timely and acceptable capital restoration plan; or materially fails to implement an accepted capital restoration plan. The Texas Banking Department also has broad enforcement powers over State Bank, including the power to impose orders, remove officers and directors, impose fines and appoint supervisors and conservators.

      Brokered Deposit Restrictions. Adequately capitalized institutions cannot accept, renew or roll over brokered deposits except with a waiver from the FDIC, and are subject to restrictions on the interest rates that can be paid on such deposits. Undercapitalized institutions may not accept, renew, or roll over brokered deposits.

      Cross-Guarantee Provisions. The Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989 (FIRREA) contains a “cross-guarantee” provision which generally makes commonly controlled insured depository institutions liable to the FDIC for any losses incurred in connection with the failure of a commonly controlled depository institution.

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      Community Reinvestment Act. The CRA and the regulations issued thereunder are intended to encourage banks to help meet the credit needs of their service area, including low and moderate income neighborhoods, consistent with the safe and sound operations of the banks. These regulations also provide for regulatory assessment of a bank’s record in meeting the needs of its service area when considering applications to establish branches, merger applications and applications to acquire the assets and assume the liabilities of another bank. FIRREA requires federal banking agencies to make public a rating of a bank’s performance under the CRA. In the case of a bank holding company, the CRA performance record of the banks involved in the transaction are reviewed in connection with the filing of an application to acquire ownership or control of shares or assets of a bank or to merge with any other bank holding company. An unsatisfactory record can substantially delay or block the transaction.

      Consumer Laws and Regulations. In addition to the laws and regulations discussed herein, State Bank is also subject to certain consumer laws and regulations that are designed to protect consumers in transactions with banks. While the list set forth herein is not exhaustive, these laws and regulations include the Truth in Lending Act, the Truth in Savings Act, the Electronic Funds Transfer Act, the Expedited Funds Availability Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, and the Fair Housing Act, among others. These laws and regulations mandate certain disclosure requirements and regulate the manner in which financial institutions must deal with customers when taking deposits or making loans to such customers. State Bank must comply with the applicable provisions of these consumer protection laws and regulations as part of their ongoing customer relations.

      Privacy. In addition to expanding the activities in which banks and bank holding companies may engage, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act also imposed new requirements on financial institutions with respect to customer privacy. The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act generally prohibits disclosure of customer information to non-affiliated third parties unless the customer has been given the opportunity to object and has not objected to such disclosure. Financial institutions are further required to disclose their privacy policies to customers annually. Financial institutions, however, will be required to comply with state law if it is more protective of customer privacy than the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act.

      USA Patriot Act of 2001. The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA Patriot) Act of 2001 was enacted in October 2001. The USA Patriot Act is intended to strengthen the ability of U.S. law enforcement and the intelligence communities to work cohesively to combat terrorism on a variety of fronts. The potential impact of the USA Patriot Act on financial institutions of all kinds is significant and wide ranging. The USA Patriot Act contains a broad range of anti-money laundering and financial transparency laws and requires various regulations, including: (i) due diligence requirements for financial institutions that administer, maintain, or manage private bank accounts or correspondent accounts for non-U.S. persons; (ii) standards for verifying customer identification at account opening; (iii) rules to promote cooperation among financial institutions, regulators and law enforcement entities in identifying parties that may be involved in terrorism or money laundering; (iv) reports by nonfinancial trades and business filed with the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network for transactions exceeding $10,000; and (v) filing of suspicious activities reports involving securities by brokers and dealers if they believe a customer may be violating U.S. laws and regulations.

 
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

      In June 2003, the Securities and Exchange Commission adopted final rules under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX). Commencing with its 2004 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Texas United will be required to include a report of management on Texas United’s internal control over financial reporting if Texas United meets the accelerated filing requirement as defined in SOX. Otherwise, the filing requirement will begin with Texas United’s 2005 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The internal control report must include a statement of management’s responsibility for establishing and maintaining adequate control over financial reporting as of year-end; of the framework used by management to evaluate the effectiveness of Texas United’s internal control over financial reporting; and that Texas United’s independent accounting firm has issued an attestation report on management’s assessment of Texas United’s internal control over financial reporting, which report is also required to be filed as part of the Annual Report.

9


 

 
Instability and Regulatory Structure

      Various legislation, such as the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act which expanded the powers of banking institutions and bank holding companies, and proposals to overhaul the bank regulatory system and limit the investments that a depository institution may make with insured funds, is from time to time introduced in Congress. Such legislation may change banking statutes and the operating environment of Texas United and its banking subsidiaries in substantial and unpredictable ways. Texas United cannot determine the ultimate effect that any potential legislation, if enacted, or implemented regulations with respect thereto, would have, upon the financial condition or results of operations of Texas United or its subsidiaries.

 
Expanding Enforcement Authority

      One of the major additional burdens imposed on the banking industry by FDICIA is the increased ability of banking regulators to monitor the activities of banks and their holding companies. In addition, the Federal Reserve Board and FDIC are possessed of extensive authority to police unsafe or unsound practices and violations of applicable laws and regulations by depository institutions and their holding companies. For example, the FDIC may terminate the deposit insurance of any institution which it determines has engaged in an unsafe or unsound practice. The agencies can also assess civil money penalties, issue cease and desist or removal orders, seek injunctions, and publicly disclose such actions. FDICIA, FIRREA and other laws have expanded the agencies’ authority in recent years, and the agencies have not yet fully tested the limits of their powers.

 
Effect on Economic Environment

      The policies of regulatory authorities, including the monetary policy of the Federal Reserve Board, have a significant effect on the operating results of bank holding companies and their subsidiaries. Among the means available to the Federal Reserve Board to affect the money supply are open market operations in U.S. government securities, changes in the discount rate on member bank borrowings, and changes in reserve requirements against member bank deposits. These means are used in varying combinations to influence overall growth and distribution of bank loans, investments and deposits, and their use may affect interest rates charged on loans or paid for deposits.

      Federal Reserve Board monetary policies have materially affected the operating results of commercial banks in the past and are expected to continue to do so in the future. The nature of future monetary policies and the effect of such policies on the business and earnings of Texas United and its subsidiaries cannot be predicted.

 
Item 2. Facilities

      Texas United conducts business at eighteen full service banking locations and three loan production offices (LPOs). Texas United’s headquarters are located at 202 W. Colorado Street, La Grange, Texas. Texas United owns all of the buildings in which its banking centers are located except for the Tomball banking center and the three LPOs. The lease for the Tomball location expires in May 2004, not including the five year renewal option period which is available. Except for the Austin LPO, the lease for the other two LPOs are on an annual basis. The lease for the Austin LPO expires in May 2005. The following table sets forth specific information on each location:

             
Deposits at
Location Address December 31, 2003



(Dollars in thousands)
La Grange
  202 W. Colorado   $ 87,712  
    La Grange, Texas 78945        
Flatonia
  205 East South Main     35,803  
    Flatonia, Texas 78941        
Gonzales
  508 St. Louis     37,648  
    Gonzales, Texas 78629        
Weimar
  201 N. Center Street     11,301  
    Weimar, Texas 78962        

10


 

             
Deposits at
Location Address December 31, 2003



(Dollars in thousands)
New Braunfels
  844 North Loop 37   $ 25,678  
    New Braunfels, Texas 78131        
Schulenburg
  301 Bucek St.     26,336  
    Schulenburg, Texas 78956        
Dime Box
  Bowes & Highway 141     15,945  
    Dime Box, Texas 77853        
Tomball
  620 W. Main St.     20,696  
    Tomball, Texas 77377-0170        
Pleasanton
  1112 W. Oaklawn Drive     20,731  
    Pleasanton, Texas 78064        
Hempstead
  1250 Austin Street     54,680  
    Hempstead, Texas 77445        
Waller
  31250 FM 2920     39,715  
    Waller, Texas 77484        
Cedar Park
  650 E. Whitestone Blvd.     16,595  
    Cedar Park, Texas 78613        
Austin
  12730 Research Blvd.     11,251  
    Austin, Texas 78759        
Lexington
  8933 N. Hwy 77     6,178  
    Lexington, Texas 78747        
Bryan Main
  2900 Texas Avenue     62,573  
    Bryan, Texas 77802        
Bryan North
  1500 N. Texas Avenue     8,198  
    Bryan, Texas 77803        
College Station
  2202 Longmire     14,813  
    College Station, Texas 77840        
Liberty Hill
  101 Bronco Blvd.     5,778  
    Liberty Hill, Texas 78942        
Houston LPO
  10333 Richmond      
    Houston, Texas 77042        
Temple LPO
  1210 West Avenue A      
    Temple, Texas 76504        
Austin LPO
  11921 N. Mopac Expressway,      
    Suite 100        
    Austin, Texas 78759        
 
Item 3. Legal Proceedings

      Texas United and State Bank from time to time are involved in legal proceedings arising in the normal course of business. Management believes that neither Texas United nor State Bank is a party to, nor any of their property the subject of, any material pending or threatened legal proceedings which, if determined adversely, would have a material adverse effect upon the consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows of Texas United.

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Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

      No matters were submitted to a vote of security holders during the fourth quarter of 2003.

PART II.

 
Item 5. Market of Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters

      Texas United’s Common Stock began trading on July 31, 2002 and is listed on the Nasdaq National Market System under the symbol “TXUI.” Prior to July 31, 2002, Texas United’s Common Stock was not publicly traded, and there was no active trading market for the Common Stock. As of March 15, 2004, there were 4,004,221 shares issued and outstanding and approximately 1,070 holders of record of the Texas United Common Stock. The number of beneficial owners is unknown to Texas United at this time.

      The high and low closing prices by quarter for the 2003 and 2002 fiscal years (adjusted to give effect to the three-for-two stock split effective October 15, 2003) were as follows:

                 
2003 High Low



First quarter
  $ 12.61     $ 11.13  
Second quarter
    15.20       12.27  
Third quarter
    17.67       14.17  
Fourth quarter
    17.44       15.34  
                 
2002 High Low



First quarter
    N/A       N/A  
Second quarter
    N/A       N/A  
Third quarter
  $ 15.33     $ 12.66  
Fourth quarter
    14.00       12.17  

Dividends

      Holders of Common Stock are entitled to receive dividends when, as and if declared by Texas United’s Board of Directors out of funds legally available therefor. While Texas United has declared dividends on its Common Stock since inception in 1998, and paid quarterly dividends aggregating $0.07 per share in 2003 and $0.07 per share in 2002, there is no assurance that Texas United will continue to pay dividends in the future.

      A primary source of cash revenues to Texas United is dividends paid by State Bank with respect to the Bank’s capital stock. There are certain restrictions on the payment of such dividends imposed by federal and state banking laws, regulations and authorities. Under federal law, the Bank cannot pay a dividend if it will cause the Bank to be “undercapitalized.” The Bank is also subject to risk-based capital rules that restrict its ability to pay dividends. The risk-based capital rules set a specific schedule for achieving minimum capital levels in relation to risk-weighted assets. Regulatory authorities can impose stricter limitations on the ability of the Bank to pay dividends if they consider the payment to be an unsafe or unsound practice.

      The cash dividends paid per share by quarter for Texas United’s last two fiscal years (adjusted to give effect to the three-for-two stock split effective October 15, 2003) were as follows:

                 
2003 2002


First quarter
  $ 0.07     $ 0.07  
Second quarter
    0.07       0.07  
Third quarter
    0.07       0.07  
Fourth quarter
    0.07       0.07  

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans

      The Company currently has stock options outstanding. The following table provides information as of December 31, 2003 (adjusted to give effect to the three-for-two stock split effective October 15, 2003)

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regarding the Company’s equity compensation plans under which the Company’s equity securities are authorized for issuance:

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

                         
(a) (b) (c)
Number of Securities
Remaining Available for
Future Issuance Under
Number of Securities to Equity Compensation
be Issued upon Exercise Weighted-Average Plans (Excluding
of Outstanding Options, Exercise Price of Securities Reflected in
Plan Category Warrants and Rights Outstanding Options Column (a))




Equity compensation plans approved by security holders
    236,964 (1)   $ 7.07       15,331  
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
    50,625 (2)     3.85        
     
     
     
 
Total
    287,589     $ 6.51       15,331  


(1)  Includes 2,398 shares which may be issued upon exercise of options outstanding assumed by Texas United in connection with the acquisition of The Bryan-College Station Financial Holding Company at a weighted average exercise price of $18.26.
 
(2)  The shares included under equity compensation plans not approved by shareholders consist of shares issuable upon the exercise of nonqualified stock options granted to the President and Chief Executive Officer of Texas United in 1996 and to an executive officer of State Bank in 1997. The options terminate ten years from the date of grant.

 
Item 6. Selected Consolidated Financial Data

      The following table summarizes selected consolidated financial data of Texas United for each fiscal year of the five-year period ended December 31, 2003. The following selected consolidated financial data should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and Texas United’s consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto. The consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2003 and 2002 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2003 and the report thereon of Grant Thornton LLP are included elsewhere in this document. You should not assume that the results of operations for past periods indicate results for any future period.

                                         
As of and for the Years Ended December 31,

2003 2002 2001 2000 1999





(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
Income Statement Data:
                                       
Interest income
  $ 36,701     $ 32,406     $ 29,894     $ 25,355     $ 19,664  
Interest expense
    10,478       10,373       13,064       11,482       8,314  
     
     
     
     
     
 
Net interest income
    26,223       22,033       16,830       13,873       11,350  
Provision for loan losses
    2,900       1,900       925       293       188  
     
     
     
     
     
 
Net interest income after provision for loan losses
    23,323       20,133       15,905       13,580       11,162  
Noninterest income
    13,804       11,671       7,865       5,308       3,852  
Noninterest expense
    29,992       25,888       19,761       15,450       11,198  
     
     
     
     
     
 
Income before taxes
    7,135       5,916       4,009       3,438       3,816  
Provision for income taxes